QPAC

We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors of this land, their spirits and their legacy. The foundations laid by these ancestors give strength, inspiration and courage to current and future generations, both First Nations and non-First Nations peoples, towards creating a better Queensland.

From the crowning of royals to the evening news bulletin – fanfares have been used to signal important events since the Middle Ages. These short, rousing compositions are typically played by brass instruments and percussion with one simple purpose: to capture the attention of an audience.

Each year, the Artology Fanfare competition provides young composers the opportunity to have their music heard by audiences across the country.

Open to those aged 12-21 years, the 2021 Fanfare competition saw over 100 young Australian composers submit their very own attention-grabbing composition. From this pool, thirty-two entrants were selected to receive mentorship from respected composers Nicholas Vines, Lyle Chan, Jessica Wells and Chrysoulla Markoulli to develop their ideas and finalise their work.

Eight fanfares were then professionally recorded by the Australian Youth Orchestra at Trackdown Studios in Sydney and are now being broadcast in theatre and concert venues Australia-wide. Selected composers also had the opportunity to hear their fanfares performed in concert by the Queensland Youth Orchestra at The Old Museum Concert Hall.

“Hearing my fanfare played by the QYO is just incredible,’ explains fifteen-year-old Tasmanian composer and 2021 Finalist, Floyd Taylor. “It’s a dream come true [to have] a live orchestra play my piece.”

“Creativity is our most valuable human resource, especially in these times of change,” says Anna Cerneaz, Director of Artology.

“Opportunities to play, to think, to create are essential to our future. Fanfare encourages creativity with achievable real-life outcomes for young people to be inspired and let their imaginations go wild.”

The finalists of the 2021 Fanfare program will have their composition played across QPAC at upcoming Queensland Symphony Orchestra performances. QPAC has worked with Artology to bring the fanfares of young Australians to our foyers since 2018 and we are proud to support the creative growth and professional development of these emerging composers.

Click here to learn more about the Fanfare competition, meet the participants and listen to their fanfares.

Watch the Australian Youth Orchestra record eight of the winning Fanfares at Trackdown Studios, Sydney.